Helensburgh - History

Helensburgh was first known as 'Camp Creek'. It was mainly a tent town of railway workers who were constructing the Illawarra railway line. There are two different explanations for the choice of the name Helensburgh. The first is that the town was named after Helensburgh in Scotland, birthplace of the Cumberland Coal Mine's manager, Charles Harper. The second explanation is that the town was named after Harper's daughter, Helen. Today Helensburgh in Scotland and Helensburgh in NSW are sister cities.

Land grants

Until the early 1880's there was very little settlement between Sutherland and Little Bulli (Stanwell Park) as the land was considered desolate, rugged and wild. There were some small holdings but because of the difficulty in travelling through the area it remained largely undeveloped.

In 1883 the Cumberland Coal and Iron Mining Company took a 99 year lease on 18,000 acres of Crown land and in 1884 were successful in finding coal in the area. The Metropolitan Coal Company of Sydney took over the lease in 1887 and a mine opened in 1888. A miner's camp was established and the area became known as Camp Creek.

Shanty towns sprang up on Crown Land as the railway came through and workers' camps were established.

Other large land owners were Thomas Walker and Sir John Robertson*. The village of Helensburgh West was subdivided for building sites on land owned by Sir John. (Buckley, 1984; Church of the Holy Redeemer.)

* Sir John Robertson was Premier of NSW on numerous occasions between 1860 and 1886.

Early residents

The first residents of Helensburgh were railway workers, miners and their families. Early dwellings were tents and rough shanties built from turpentine and iron bark from Otford sawmills. In the 1890's fifty, four room cottages were built for mine employees by the Metropolitan Coal Company.

Charles Harper

Charles Harper was one of the first successful coal miner's and a leading community worker in Helensburgh. He was the first manager of Metropolitan Coal Company, the father of nine children and he died in a tragic mine accident in 1887. Charles Harper was an active member of the committee of citizens lobbying for roads, a school, post office and public facilities for the new community. (History of Helensburgh, 1978)

Thomas Horan

Thomas Horan was the first storekeeper and postmaster. The Post Office was opened in 1886 and he held the position of postmaster for 22 years. Thomas was also given the contract to run a mail service from Waterfall to Helensburgh using a horse drawn cart, also from Helensburgh to Otford by horseback six times a week. In 1901 the present Post Office building was opened. Thomas was also the Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages for 11 years. Tom Horan was described as a very capable, prominent citizen and an asset to Helensburgh. (History of Helensburgh, 1978)

Nurse Chadwick

Nurse Chadwick came to Helensburgh from England with her husband. She was a highly respected local midwife and endeared herself to many maternity patients because of her kindly attentiveness, cheerfulness and generosity. Nurse Chadwick first took up residence in Walker Street and then moved with her husband and daughter to Short Street. In the late 1930's she had three bedrooms of her home converted into accommodation for maternity cases. She died on 18 June 1977 and was a patient at Garrawarra Hospital before her death. (Buckley, 1984)

Early industry

Coal Mining

In 1883 Cumberland Coal and Iron Mining Company took a ninety nine year lease of 18,000 acres of Government land known as 'Camp Creek'. Coal was found in 1884 on the site where the mine is located today. The opening of the coal mine was responsible for the growth of the village of Helensburgh. The Metropolitan Coal Company of Sydney took over the mine in 1887 and opened in 1888 employing 45 men. This mine was described as the most perfectly arranged mine in Australia because miners were able to walk perfectly erect in contrast to most mines. It was also possible to use horses rather than ponies in the unusually high tunnels. The mine was bought by Australian Iron & Steel, Port Kembla in 1965. This mine has been closed and re-opened on a few occasions. (History of Helensburgh, 1978)

Mushroom Industry

Lilyvale Mushrooms Pty. Ltd. is the largest growing mushroom firm in Australia. It began in 1952 in a very small single tunnel at Lilyvale and in 1959 two tunnels were in operation. Eighty to ninety crops are grown per year and eighty percent of the production is canned and the remainder is sold fresh.(History of Helensburgh, 1978)

Clothing Factory

Helensburgh Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of Leathercrafts Ltd, Sydney, was established in June 1945 and was sponsored by the government. This factory produced many types of clothing including 'King Gee' orders. The company was forced into liquidation because of insufficient orders. It closed down but was re-opened in 1960 as Anvil Industries Pty. Ltd. Today it manufactures boys and youths casual wear and employs 75 people.(History of Helensburgh, 1978).

Early transport

Transport for the first settlers of Helensburgh was mainly horses and bullock teams. The postman and butcher delivered on horseback and milk was delivered by horse and cart.

Railways

In 1884 there was a great demand for a rail service from Sydney to Wollongong and the construction of the Illawarra line was commenced. Settlements for railway construction workers were established at Otford and Cawley in 1884 and the coming of the railway in 1888 provided improved communications for the isolated Helensburgh. Helensburgh growth depended on the operation of the Metropolitan Colliery and its establishment was due to the opening of the railway line. In October 1888 a continuous service from Wollongong to Sydney was opened. Helensburgh's original railway station operated from January 1889 until May 1915. (History of Helensburgh, 1978)

Road

Helensburgh's first 'Motor Bus' was owned by Arthur Perks and was running in the 1920's.

Otford road was commenced in 1905 as a direct link between Otford and Helensburgh and was abandoned in about 1916 because of the rugged bushland. Helensburgh was consequently only accessible via Bald Hill (History of Helensburgh, 1978)

Helensburgh - Historic buildings

The original building of the Police station dates back to 1895. This Police station is still in use. There is a courtroom furnished with red cedar, and a lock-up which consists of two cells and an exercise yard. The federation style building is constructed from bricks. A constable was first stationed at Helensburgh in 1891 and the first recorded officer in charge was Constable George Stephens in 1899. (Ali, c1981)

The Hotel was built in 1915 and has been modified on ground level. Two storey painted brickwork with a modern awning. There is one remnant painted glass sash on the upper level. The building is Federation stripped classical style. (Ali, c1981)

Helensburgh - Environment

Helensburgh began as a group of tents pitched in the heart of wild bush country in the 1880's. Today it is a thriving centre with a growing population and a mixture of old pioneer weatherboard homes and modern new homes built on the hillsides.

Unique flora and fauna found in this area include Cabbage tree palms, Gymea lily, Yellow-top ash eucalyptus and Bush pea. Kelly's Falls has two waterfalls and an abundance of rainforest flora which once covered this entire area.

Some of the native birds and animals found in the Helensburgh area are:Sulphur-crested cockatoos; spotted owls; crimson rosella; kookaburra and the superb lyrebird; long nose bandicoot; brush tail possums; swamp wallabies; bush rats and feather tailed gliders.

Helensburgh's closeness to the Royal National Park and the Garrawarra State Recreation, both environmentally protected areas, means that any further development must be carefully planned to ensure the survival of local native flora, fauna and native wildlife corridors.

Future development of the Helensburgh area has been an important issue since the 1970's. In 1985 the State Government requested Wollongong City Council undertake a Local Environment Study to investigate urban expansion and its effect on the local environment. Also in 1985 there was a draft plan for the development of 2,200 lots in the Camp Creek and Gills Creek area and a 40 hectare site for commercial development on the town's outskirts. Council rejected the development plan after five years of debating because it could not guarantee that the Royal National Park and the Hacking river catchment area would not be polluted.(Illawarra Mercury 20 April, 1991).

Some of the problems associated with further development of the Helensburgh area are:

Water suppy from the Woronora Dam

Waste disposal

Bushfire hazards

Introduction of exotic plants and domestic animals and the spread of diseases that may affect native animals and plants

Contamination of Hacking River which flows through the National Park due to sewerage waste, urban runoff, erosion from construction sites and also the scenic value of certain areas around Helensburgh.

Spread of feral animals into National Park because of its proximity. (Helensburgh Local Environmental Study Progress Report, 1986; The Helensburgh Plan: Draft, 1989; Future Development of Helensburgh, 1984)

Helensburgh - Timeline

Cumberland Coal and Iron Mining Co took a 99 year lease on 18,000 acres of Crown land at Helensburgh. Commenced drilling on the plateau above Camp Creek

1884

First sod of shaft sinking for the mine was turned by Sir Robert Wisdom on 1 November

1885

First school was established with Edwin Byrnes as its first teacher

1886

South Cumberland Coal Mining Company sinking a shaft at Camp Creek. Shaft is sunk to a depth of 315 feet, is 16 feet in diameter

1886

First Post Office opened

1887

Metropolitan Coal Company of Sydney took over mine

1887

Opening of Centennial Hotel - Licensee Bill Handley

1887

First recorded fatality at the mine - R W Davis

1888

Construction of Miners' Hall

1888

Opening of Helensburgh railway station

1888

Pit of the Metropolitan Coal Company reached the coal-seam at a depth of 1,095 feet

1888

2 men killed in the mine - a shaft sinker and Charles Harper the mine manager

1889

Paragon Hotel built for George Welch by George Ricketts

1892

Establishment of the Helensburgh and Lilyvale Cooperative Society Ltd

1892

Helensburgh Church of England parish was opened by Rev. J L Boswell

1894

Opening of the School of Arts building in Walker St

1895

Establishment of police station and court house

1901

Present Post Office building opened

1915

Construction of the Band Hall at a cost of 800 pounds

1925

Electricity for the Helensburgh township was switched on

1945

Helensburgh Manufacturing Co established - name was later changed to Leathercrafts Ltd

1951

Supply of water to Helensburgh township officially opened

1952

Lilyvale Mushrooms Pty Ltd begins production in small tunnel at Lilyvale

1965

Mine purchased by Australian Iron & Steel, Port Kembla

1981

Population of Helensburgh 3,750

1985

State Government requests Wollongong City Council to undertake Local Environment Study for Helensburgh area

1985

Draft Plan for development of 2,200 lots in Camp Creek and Gills Creek Area and 40 hectare site for commercial development on the town's outskirts

1989

Wollongong City Council produces The Helensburgh Plan (Draft) on the future development of Helensburgh

2001

Massive bushfires in the area reach Helensburgh at lunch time on Christmas Day. A number of houses and businesses are destroyed or damaged.

2004

After a 25 year building process, the Sri Venkateswara Temple – the largest complex of its kind in the Southern hemisphere - is consecrated in a special ceremony involving 5000 Hindu people from Australia and throughout the world.

2007

Skate park constructed at Rex Jackson Park. A $6.1 million upgrade to the railway station is also completed.

2008

A bronze statue commemorating the town’s mining heritage is unveiled near the Post Office.